career connection
nutritional science
The Power of
Food as Medicine
Do you:
Teirrah Stroman
A H
ave a passion for making food accessible
to all people?
B W
ant to make a difference in the health
industry?
C L ove to experiment and get your hands
dirty?
If so, a career in food and nutritional science might be a
great option for you!
What exactly is nutritional science? According to Dr. Norma
Dawkins, a professor in Tuskegee University’s Food and Nutri-
tional Science (FNS) Department, food and nutritional science
is the study of the body’s utilization of food for growth and de-
velopment, health, and well-being. In short, it’s the study of how
food works and how our bodies use it.
Tuskegee University’s FNS Department offers Bachelor of Science
(B.S.) degrees in food science, nutritional science, dietetics, pub-
lic health nutrition, and dual degrees in food science & biology
or in nutritional science & biology. Who knew there was so
much to learn about food!
Did you know?
Tuskegee University is one of only two minority-
serving institutions in the state of Alabama with an
Institute of Food Technology-approved program
training African-Americans and other minorities to
become food and nutritional science professionals.
30 |
Winter 2018
is currently
pursuing a degree in nutritional
science and dietetics at Tuskegee
University. Check out what she
has to say about the FNS program!
Why nutritional science?
My love for the human body and how it works has always been a
passion. After I changed my diet to plant-based, I really got to ex-
perience the benefits and joy of food. I noticed that when I used
whole foods as a foundation for preventative care, illness was
no longer plaguing my life. Food as medicine has influenced my
understanding of disease, and shown me how I can help other
people make healthier decisions. The human body is designed to
work for us, not against us.
Why Tuskegee?
Tuskegee University has a rich history of scholars and inven-
tors— I chose Tuskegee because I intend to add to that rich his-
tory. I love how much our school, including those who founded
it and those who have attended it, has changed the history of our
nation. To be a part of a growing industry and to have school like
Tuskegee University be the place where you learn, create, and
apply your knowledge is an opportunity I wouldn’t want to miss
out on.
My favorite part about the FNS program is the support we
receive from our program directors. I also really love that we
get together and hold events to improve health and nutritional
awareness at the University.
What’s Next?
A future career goal of mine is to open my own practice and have
a Holistic Health & Wellness Center. I hope to give guidance
to people about how they can lead healthy lives, broaden their
knowledge on preventative care, and help them develop healthy
relationships with food.
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